Philips Sonicare C2 Vs C3 Brush Heads (2021): What's The Difference?

With a wide range of Philips Sonicare brush heads to choose from, it can be daunting to select the best one for your existing electric toothbrush and overall oral health. There are specific Philips brush heads designed for users with sensitive teeth, stained teeth, and gum problems, to name some. In particular, people get confused when deciding between the Sonicare C2 and C3 plaque control sonic toothbrush heads as they are more similar than different. We break down their similarities and differences so you can choose which one suits you better.

Deal Finder Philips Sonicare C3

Boasting plaque removal that's 10x better than your normal toothbrush, the Philips Sonicare C3 Premium Plaque Control replacement brush head is great for optimal oral health.

Check Price on Amazon Check Price on Walmart We are reader supported. When you buy through our links we may earn an affiliate commission.

Navigation

• Sonicare C2 vs C3 Comparison Chart
• Performance
• BrushSync Technology
• Compatibility
• Verdict
• FAQs

Sonicare C2 vs C3 Comparison Chart

Model	Philips Sonicare C2 Optimal Plaque Control	Philips Sonicare C3 Premium Plaque Control
Price	Check Price at Amazon.com	Check Price at Amazon.com
Size	Standard	Standard
Plaque Removal	Can remove up to 7x more plaque	Can remove up to 10x more plaque
Brush Head System	Click-on	Click-on
BrushSync Technology	Yes	Yes
Bristle Stiffness	Regular	Medium soft
Adapting Cleaning Technology	No	Yes
Recommended Replacement	3 months	3 months
Colors	White	Black
Compatibility	Click-On Sonicare Handles	Click-On Sonicare Handles

Performance

Respectively, the Sonicare C2 and C3 can remove up to 7 and 10 times more plaque than a manual toothbrush

The bristle patterns of the C2 and C3 sonic toothbrush heads are designed to remove plaque more effectively and clean hard-to-reach areas better than your regular toothbrush. Named Optimal Plaque Control, the Sonicare C2 promises to clean up to 7 times better than a manual toothbrush. Its bristles are tightly-packed to help make sure every surface of your teeth is scrubbed clean.

Meanwhile, the Sonicare C3 Premium Plaque Control can clean 10 times more than a manual toothbrush. Its bristle patterns and head work together for deeper cleaning. While it can remove more plaque than the C2, the C3 has softer bristles for gentler brushing. The C3 also has four times more surface contact compared to another popular brush head, the DiamondClean. This is because its rubber sides flex as you brush different areas of your mouth. Aptly called Adapting Cleaning Technology, the flexible rubber sides help minimize the pressure on your gums and clean areas in your mouth that are typically difficult to reach. 

Deal Finder Philips Sonicare C2

Compatible with most Philips Sonicare click-on handles, the Sonicare C2 replacement brush heads can remove up to 7x more plaque than your regular toothbrush.

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BrushSync Technology

Both brush head types feature Philips’ BrushSync Technology

Philips’ BrushSync Technology allows the Philips Sonicare toothbrush handle to detect what kind of brush head is currently attached. For instance, the C2 and C3 brush heads will activate the Clean mode, whereas the Sonicare Tonguecare will automatically change the setting to Tongue Care mode if your electric toothbrush has this setting.

Both the Sonicare C2 and C3 are equipped with a chip that can tell when you started using the brush head and monitors your tooth brushing frequency. To ensure optimal plaque removal, they will alert you once it’s time for a brush head replacement through the indicator on the handle. If you’d rather trust the bristle condition than their indicator, you can also just check the darker blue bristle whenever you brush your teeth. Once it turns white, that means it’s time to get a new brush head.

Compatibility

Both brush heads are compatible with most Philips Sonicare electric toothbrush

The Sonicare C2 and C3 work with almost all of the click-on Philips Sonicare electric toothbrush lines. Changing your Sonicare brush head is quick and painless, thanks to their click-on attachment design. However, they are not compatible with models with screw-on handles such as the PowerUp Battery and Essence handles.

It’s worth noting that their BrushSync feature will only work with Sonicare toothbrush handles equipped with the same technology. Models that don’t have the BrushSync pairing technology, such as the Sonicare FlexCare Platinum line, won’t automatically detect the brush head that you’re using.

Verdict

The Sonicare C2 is more budget-friendly, but individuals wearing braces or have more dental work done will find the C3 worth the price

Deal Finder Philips Sonicare C2

Compatible with most Philips Sonicare click-on handles, the Sonicare C2 replacement brush heads can remove up to 7x more plaque than your regular toothbrush.

Check Price on Amazon Check Price on Walmart We are reader supported. When you buy through our links we may earn an affiliate commission. Deal Finder Philips Sonicare C3

Boasting plaque removal that's 10x better than your normal toothbrush, the Philips Sonicare C3 Premium Plaque Control replacement brush head is great for optimal oral health.

Check Price on Amazon Check Price on Walmart We are reader supported. When you buy through our links we may earn an affiliate commission.

We’d like to reiterate that whichever you choose between the Sonicare C2 and C3, you’ll still end up with a brush head that can deliver better cleaning results than a manual toothbrush. We recommend focusing more on the proper brushing techniques before losing sleep over which brush head to get. 

With that caveat aside, the Sonicare C2 Optimal Plaque Control brush head offers excellent value for your money and can do the job well. However, if you wear braces, crowns, implants, and similar dental work, you’ll benefit from the Sonicare C3’s softer bristles and flexible rubber sides. These features of the C3 ensure deeper cleaning than what the C2 can offer.

FAQs

📌 What’s the difference between the Sonicare C2 and C3?

The Sonicare C3 has better plaque removal capability and has softer bristles than the C2. For more similarities and differences between the two brush heads, see our comparison chart above.

📌 What is the difference between the Sonicare brush heads?

The Sonicare brush heads differ in their bristles and brush head materials. There are brush heads designed only for cleaning plaque like a regular toothbrush while some are better-suited for whitening, gum care, sensitive teeth, and tongue cleaning.

📌 Do all Philips Sonicare brush heads fit the handles?

The click-on brush heads are compatible with click-on electric toothbrush handles. This is why the Sonicare C2 and C3 fit most electric toothbrushes, but they won’t work with screw-on models like the Essence and PowerUp battery.

📌 How long do Sonicare brush heads last?

Typically, brush heads should be replaced every three months. The Sonicare C2 and C3 can monitor how often you use your electric toothbrush and recommend the brush head’s replacement accordingly. 

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